Minnesota’s River Mystery: Exploring The Alleged ‘Sartell Alligator’ On Google Maps

Once you see it, you can't un-see it!

A Facebook user named David Ruedy recently posted some images that seem to, with a lot of imagination, reveal a giant alligator(?) lurking under the water that can be seen via Google Maps.

You can see the images for yourself via Google Maps right here:

To me, it looks like maybe a boat wake or maybe a rock formation under the water that has taken on a unique shape via erosion? While I am confident that there is not, in fact, a giant alligator just relaxing at the bottom of the Mississippi in Sartell, that hasn't stopped several people from letting their imaginations run wild on Ruedy's post.

Jeremy K:

"That's a fossil kicking up!"

Breanna S: 

"Probably a big catfish the Red has them."

CJ: 

"So part of the Mississippi River in Minnesota has a lake monster legend, but that's way further south and in deeper waters. Look up Pepe of Lake Pepin."

(NOTE: 'Pepie' is known as the Lake Monster of the Mississippi River and even has a book written about him, written by Chad Lewis and Noah Voss in 2014). 

Janice: 

"Well, if it's a gator, just give it a couple of months, when freezing temps hit, it'll be bye bye gator. More apt to be a big catfish or sturgeon"

Mirza 

"Ol' Nessie made a hell of a trip"

Google Maps